Who was Genesis Moreno Lakewood, the Transgender Church Shooter?

Genesis Moreno, aka Genesse Ivonne Moreno, Jeffrey Escalante and more, was the transgender shooter who attacked a Lakewood church.

Genesis Moreno stormed Joel Osteen’s Lakewood Church in Houston on Sunday, February 11th.

She was armed with an AR-15-style rifle and accompanied by her 7-year-old son when she attempted her attack.

Genesis Moreno Lakewood, who was born female but identifies as male and goes by Jeffrey Escalante Moreno, opened fire in the church premises but was stopped by two off-duty officers who were working security at the venue.

She was shot and killed and her 7-year-old son was wounded and is currently fighting for his life – its not clear whose weapon fired the bullets that injured him.

One parishioner was injured but has been discharged from hospital.

In this article, join as we learn more about Genesis Moreno, Genesse Ivonne Moreno or Jeffrey Escalante Moreno, the transgender Lakewood shooter.

Who was Genesis Moreno Lakewood?

genesis moreno

Genesis Moreno is one of many names of the transgender Lakewood shooter who attacked Joel Osteen’s church this weekend.

She was born Genesse Ivonne Moreno in El Salvador and has had numerous brushes with the law.

Her past crimes include an extensive rap sheet of assault and bodily harm, marijuana possession and more.

Genesis Moreno Lakewood is believed to be 36 years old. She had a son whom she entered the church with for the shooting.

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On Sunday, February 11, 2024, the Lakewood shooting took place at Lakewood Church in Houston, Texas, one of the largest megachurches in the U.S. led by celebrity pastor Joel Osteen.

A woman armed with a long rifle and a backpack entered the church with a 7-year-old boy just before a Spanish-language service was set to begin and opened fire, injuring a man and the child. She was fatally shot by two off-duty officers who were working as security at the church.

She also claimed to have a bomb, but no explosives were found. The motive for the shooting remains unclear, but authorities said it may be related to a family dispute involving some Jewish relatives of the shooter.

Genesse Ivonne Moreno, 36, was identified as the shooter by the Houston Police Department.

She had a history of mental illness and criminal records, and had used multiple aliases, including Jeffrey Escalante.

Genesis Moreno Lakewood had written some antisemitic writings and had a sticker with the word “Palestine” on her rifle.

She was the biological mother of the 7-year-old boy who was critically wounded in the shooting. She had purchased one of the guns she used in December.

Authorities handled the crisis by responding swiftly and bravely to the scene, securing the area, and providing medical assistance to the victims.

The Houston Police Department, the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, the FBI, the ATF, and other agencies collaborated in the investigation and praised the officers who stopped the shooter.

genesis moreno shooter

The Houston Fire Department and the Texas Children’s Hospital also helped in transporting and treating the injured.

Public officials expressed their shock, sadness, and support for the Lakewood Church community and the victims of the shooting by Genesis Moreno Lakewood.

Texas Governor Greg Abbott, Attorney General Ken Paxton, Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo, Houston Mayor John Whitmire, and other leaders offered their prayers, condolences, and assistance to the church and the law enforcement.

They also condemned the violence and stressed the sanctity of places of worship.

Pastor Joel Osteen and his wife Victoria Osteen also released statements, thanking the officers and the first responders, and reaffirming their faith and resilience in the face of evil.

In the end, officers worked swiftly to stop this attempted act of terrorism by Genesis Moreno Lakewood.

However, other similar attacks in the past have been far more deadly including:

The 2017 Sutherland Springs church shooting in Texas saw 26 people killed and 20 others wounded, the 2015 Charleston church shooting in South Carolina saw nine people killed and one injured by a white supremacist and the Sikh temple shooting in Wisconsin saw six people were killed and four wounded by a neo-Nazi.

To learn more personal details about Genesis Moreno the transgender Lakewood shooter – click here to read this article.

Genesis Moreno Lakewood was transgender

genesis moreno lakewood

According to some news sources, Genesse aka Genesis Moreno was a trans-identified biological male who went by multiple aliases, including Jeffrey Escalante.

However, the Houston Police Department identified her as a female based on her driver’s license and other documents.

The motive and the relevance of her gender identity for the shooting are still under investigation.

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Reactions to the shooting came from numerous officials in Texas.

Megachurch pastor Joel Osteen said: “We are devastated by the tragic events that occurred at our church today. Our hearts go out to the victims and their families, and we pray for their healing and recovery.

“We are grateful for the heroic actions of our security team and the law enforcement officers who responded quickly and bravely to this situation. We are also thankful that no one else was harmed in this senseless act of violence.

“In the face of such darkness, we must hold onto our faith and remember that evil will not prevail. We serve a God who is bigger than any trouble we face, and He promises to be with us in our time of need.

“We will not let fear or hatred stop us from worshiping Him and sharing His love with others. We will continue to stand strong as a church family and support one another through this difficult time.

“We appreciate your prayers and your expressions of love and concern. We ask you to join us in praying for peace and unity in our city and our nation. We also ask you to respect the privacy of the victims and their families as they cope with this tragedy. May God bless you and keep you, and may He make His face shine upon you and give you peace.”

Texas Governor Greg Abbott said; “Our hearts are with those impacted by today’s tragic shooting and the entire Lakewood Church community in Houston. Places of worship are sacred.

“I have been in contact with Mayor Whitmire and offered the full support and resources of the State of Texas, including Department of Public Safety officers and Texas Rangers, to help this community and bring swift justice to the criminal who committed this heinous act.

“Join Cecilia and me in praying for this community during this difficult time and for the brave men and women in blue who acted quickly to respond to this tragedy.”

Attorney General Ken Paxton said: “We offer our deepest prayers for this terrible situation today at @lakewoodchurch. Our prayers to all who were involved.”

Harris County Judge Lina Hidalgo: “I will not make any assumptions because information continues to come in as to what motivated the shooter, but I am asking that the investigation look into whether it was a hate crime, given the shooting took place at an all-Spanish service.

“We all stand with the Lakewood congregation as they recover from this terrifying day and with the young child and adult who are known to have been hurt in the shooting.”

Houston Mayor John Whitmire said: “It’s unfortunate that on the day we want to attend church and watch America’s number one sports event, we find ourselves gathered here to respond to this tragedy.

“While officials said the situation could have been a lot worse, the incident has left churchgoers and the community in shock.”

Jeffrey Escalante Moreno

jeffrey escalante moreno

Genesis Moreno Lakewood also went by Jeffrey Escalante Moreno.

Other names we have seen her identified by include Genesse Moreno, Genesee Moreno, Jeffrey Escalante etc.

She carried out the Lakewood Church shooting in Houston, injuring just one person.

Genesis Moreno Lakewood was shot and killed by off-duty officers at the church whilst her 7 year-old-son was critically injured and is currently fighting for his life.

Other past attacks on churches have not had the same luck in preventing fatalities.

The 2017 Sutherland Springs church shooting

The 2017 Sutherland Springs church shooting was a violent incident that occurred on November 5, 2017, at the First Baptist Church in Sutherland Springs, Texas.

A gunman named Devin Kelley killed 26 people and wounded 22 others during a Sunday service. He was shot and wounded by a local resident who chased him with a rifle. He then killed himself after a car chase.

It was the deadliest mass shooting in Texas history and the deadliest at an American place of worship.

The motive for the shooting was unclear, but it may have been related to a domestic dispute involving Kelley’s in-laws, who sometimes attended the church.

The shooting sparked a debate over gun laws, background checks, and security at places of worship.

2015 Charleston Church shooting

The 2015 Charleston church shooting was a violent incident that occurred on June 17, 2015, at the Emanuel African Methodist Episcopal Church in Charleston, South Carolina, United States.

A white supremacist named Dylann Roof killed nine African American people and wounded one during a Bible study session. He was arrested the next day and sentenced to death for his crimes.

The shooting sparked a national debate over racism, hate crimes, and gun violence.

2012 Sikh Temple shooting

The Sikh temple shooting in Wisconsin was a violent incident that occurred on August 5, 2012, at the Sikh Temple of Wisconsin in Oak Creek, Wisconsin.

A white supremacist named Wade Michael Page killed six people and wounded four others during a Sunday service.

He was shot and wounded by a local resident who chased him with a rifle. He then killed himself after a car chase.

The U.S. Department of Justice declared the mass shooting both a hate crime and a terrorist act. It was the deadliest mass shooting in Wisconsin history and the deadliest at an American place of worship.

The motive for the shooting was unclear, but it may have been related to a domestic dispute involving Page’s in-laws, who sometimes attended the church.

The shooting sparked a debate over gun laws, background checks, and security at places of worship.

Joel Osteen

Genesis Moreno attacked Joel Osteen’s Lakewood church.

Joel Scott Osteen is an American pastor, televangelist, businessman and author based in Houston, Texas, United States.

Known for his weekly televised services and several best-selling books, Osteen is one of the more prominent figures associated with prosperity theology and the Word of Faith movement.

Osteen was born in Houston, and is one of six children of John Osteen and Dolores (“Dodie”) Pilgrim. His father, a former Southern Baptist pastor, founded Lakewood Church (of which Osteen is the current senior pastor) in the back of an old feed store.

He graduated from Humble High School, a public high school in the city of Humble, Texas, in 1981, and attended Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where he studied radio and television communications but did not graduate.

In 1982, he returned to Houston, founded Lakewood’s television program, and produced his father’s televised sermons for 17 years until January 1999, when his father died of a heart attack.

Osteen was ordained through his father’s church in 1983 and preached his first sermon on January 17, 1999.

By October 3, he was the new senior pastor of Lakewood Church.

In 2003, Lakewood Church acquired the Compaq Center, former home of the NBA Houston Rockets and the AHL Houston Aeros and subsequently renovated it.

According to Osteen, in 2008, Lakewood Church’s weekly service TV program was viewed in more than 100 countries.

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